PELL CITY -- Historic Avondale Mills in Pell City has burned this morning, with smoke from the blaze visible for miles.

Firefighters from at least seven departments battled the blaze, ignited by sparks as workers cut duct work. The sparks ignited cotton dust that may have been in the plant's ducts for decades, said Pell City Fire Chief Mike Sewell.

Thunder Enterprises, a Tennessee firm, had completed almost half of the work in dismantling the building for materials, Pell City Mayor Adam Stocks said.

Thunder purchased the property and was planning on reselling the factory's wood floors and wood beams before selling the property.

No employees were hurt in the fire.

The fire is controlled but Sewell said it's possible it would take until tomorrow before the final fire and embers die out.

The mill property lies just off U.S. 231 in the heart of downtown Pell City. The mills were added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 2000.

Locals brought water and other drinks to thirsty firefighters who came from at least seven departments: Talladega, Riverside, Moody, Whitney Junction, Wattsville and Wolf Creek among them. The fire was reported at 10 a.m.

Stocks said the city was grateful for the response from neighboring cities and their fire departments.

"This is by far the largest fire Pell City has had in many years," Stocks said. "It's a sad ending to a very historic company that has meant a lot to Pell City and its residents."